City Hall to be Election Central for Tuesday Measure A7 decision

City Hall will be Election Central on Tuesday, May 8 when the public is invited to watch the returns come in determining the fate of Measure A7, according to a city spokeswoman.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesCity Hall will be Election Central on Tuesday, May 8 when the public is invited to watch the returns come in determining the fate of Measure A7, according to a city spokeswoman.Measure A7 asks voters whether or not they want to move the city’s urban development boundary to include more than 6,000 acres in Adams Canyon as well as overlaps into adjoining canyons.The Santa Paulans for Quality Development crafted measure includes the creation of 495 custom home sites, open space and a park. A resort hotel and golf course would also be allowed in the canyon if the measure passes the muster of voters.Measure A7 is the only ballot issue in Ventura County and the Special Election is projected to cost the City of Santa Paula about $60,000.According to Deputy City Clerk Lorena Alvarez City Hall will be open Tuesday night at 8 p.m. and “stay open until the results come in,” a final count expected by midnight.“There will be light refreshments, coffee, water, fruit, those types of items,” said Alvarez, who noted that she is excited at the prospect of her first Santa Paula election as Deputy City Clerk.

“It will be a learning experience,” said Alvarez.The first release of votes – absentee ballots – should occur right after 8 p.m. and all ballot boxes picked up and in county hands by 10 p.m.Special Election results will also be broadcast as they come in on Time Warner Cable Channel 10 and on the city’s web site.Alvarez said that polling places – 14 in all - throughout the city would be open for the Special Election.There are 10,252 registered voters in Santa Paula and turnout could be heavy due to the controversial measure, the third time that registered voters have been asked to decide the fate of Adams Canyon.Reports that absentee ballots were sent to addresses outside city limits was checked on by City Clerk Josie Herrera who noted that the County Elections Division double-checks all such ballots and will eliminate any that are not applicable to the election.